The following may be attributed to Dr Vicki Krause, Director of NT Centre forDisease Control and Chair of the Communicable Diseases Network Australia:
A negative pathology result has been returned for Influenza A testing on a Darwin woman who recently visited the USA and reported flu-like symptoms after returning home earlier this week.
The woman's health status is now clear and she may safely move about the community.
A positive test for Influenza A would have necessitated further testing for the possibility of the Swine Influenza A strain by the WHO reference laboratory in Melbourne.
The initial phase of testing was activated today for a second person who returned to Darwin after visiting North America recently.
This person, male, attended a local GP clinic after experiencing flu-like symptoms. Following pathology sampling he returned home with advice to remain within the home environment. The results of the testing will be available within the next 24 hours.
Media contacts: Robin Osborne, 0488 692 781; Cameron Jackson, 0401 116 144
Release date: Wednesday 29 April 2009
